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The Best Places to Eat for People New to Eastbourne

Food is a regular topic for discussion in Cohub and everyone has their favourites. So here is a list to help newcomers get started. Let us know if you think we’ve missed off a great place to eat and let us know your thoughts on your favourite Eastbourne eatery.

Special Occassion

Eastbourne has a fair few Italian restaurants, some better than others. La Locanda is located next to Pomodoro and is the posher of the two. Service is a lot slicker in La Locanda and the menu items will be more high end.

I’ve heard a lot about this Thai restaurant but have yet to go myself. It makes the list though as so many friends have all reported back with rave reviews. The menu looks very interesting with lots of Thai soups, noodles and curries.

Another choice for lovers of Thai food is Thai Brasserie, just a stones throw from Cohub it is a favourite for those looking for a fancier lunch or a nice dinner. The sweetcorn cakes and the salt and pepper squid are highly recommended.

A bit stuffy and in need of a little modernising, but this more formal restaurant is good for those wanting seasonal, high-end food. Located in Eastbourne’s poshest hotel The Grand Hotel, the menus regularly change so it’s worth researching on their website before visiting.

Dinner

A fantastic little vegetarian restaurant that opens for lunch and dinner, booking is advised as the restaurant is small. The food is great and they specialise in providing a small menu that changes very regularly.

A casual Turkish restaurant towards the seaside road part of town. In all honesty I have never ordered anything other than the kebabs from Meze. They are well presented and give you that gourmet style version of the more well known fast food version.

Everyone in Eastbourne will have their own idea of which Indian restaurant is the best and it changes surprisingly often. On a recent visit I was really surprised at how good the whole meal was, so giving this a shout out, however Tuk Tuk and Ashoka are well respected.

Probably the best tapas in town, arguably followed by Tres Amigos. Your dishes are nicely presented on tall tree like plate holders so you can easily order dishes for the whole table and all tuck in and share food with friends.

Groups

Probably Eastbourne’s most popular Italian restaurant. The menu rarely changes but it is done very well. I recommend the deep fried zucchini starter. My only issue is the service can be hit and miss, I was once told I was late when I’d been patiently waiting in a slow moving queue to get in and another time they overbooked and we were seated between two large groups of people on big tables.

A warm and cosy pub style steakhouse in Eastbourne’s Old Town, the food and service has always been great and from what I remember it is good value for money for a steak dinner. They often do great set menus if you’re looking for a good deal.

Lunch (eat in)

Probably Cohub’s most popular lunch spot and coffee house because its close, has great coffee, great food and you can work from here very easily. The menu is very impressive and they clearly take a lot of pride in aiming to be the best place for good quality, modern food and coffee. The smashed avocado on sourdough is very popular.

You can easily work from Beanzz on your laptop or notepad. Beanzz have a small menu but their sandwiches and paninis are done very well and for me. Unless anything changes, they serve the best coffee in town, bold statement I know.

Mixed reviews regarding service for this beachfront restaurant with amazing panoramic views. I myself have never had an issue. The service has always been good and the food is great. Go to items are the Avocado on sourdough with chilli salsa and optional bacon or the smoked haddock chowder.

Eastbourne’s newest lunch spot. A husband and wife business with a great team I really want this place to do well. The signage and interior is done really well and the menu is small but regularly changes. Skylark also serve coffee from a semi-local roaster called Cast Iron which is a big plus.

Lunch (Take Away)

Owners of award winning Bexhill Farm Kitchen opened this small lunch spot with a really friendly team making it very welcoming. The value for money is crazy, for less than £4 you can get yourself a doorstop sandwich and a naughty treat. They have the best bread around with award winning sourdough and white tin. The almond croissants are hard to resist! Poppyseed is also a short walk from the Cohub office.

A short walk from Cohub, Relish looks the part, this trendy little sandwich shop serves a menu that rarely changes but their are plenty of supporters of Relish who often go for lunch. Their market chorizo roll and brownie are fantastic.

I need to revisit this Italian lunch spot as I haven’t been for a while. The people here are friendly and happy all the time, plus its walkable from Cohub. They serve great pizza and cold or warm buffet items.

A vegan lunch spot that appeals to all diets as it’s so fresh and filling. It’s located in the Enterprise centre next door to Cohub so very close for a healthy lunch. I recommend the small salad with hummus…It isn’t that small!

Breakfast

For me Roots is the best full English breakfast in town (highly debatable as everyone has their favourite). I pass Roots on the way into the office and a few of the Cohub members regularly do a breakfast meet up. Roots also sell eggs, veg and some handmade items.

Beach Cafe

I haven’t been but this cafe is apparently packed almost as soon as it opens. Don’t expect anything crazy, just a proper classic full English breakfast with a good cup of tea.

Quick & Easy

Not only is this the closest restaurant to Cohub, it is great quick food so really popular. The kitchen is open so you can see it all happening and you can eat at a table or at the bar. The two favourite of many Cohubbers are the Pad Thai and the Singapore Noodles (Mild, Medium or Hot).

One of Eastbourne’s best coffee shops and eateries. Urban Ground has two places in central town and one on the top floor of Towner Art Gallery. Great coffee and fantastic light bites and pastries, they are all good but I like the one at the Towner Art Gallery as you can work their, eat and then look at the latest exhibitions.

The newest burger joint in town with plenty of cans of craft beer to choose from. 7Bone is the place to go if you want a dirty burger and fries with what they call their dirty sauce with bacon bits. The Ronalds Revenge is the one for me, a Big Mac on steroids.

The original Eastbourne burger bar and probably my favourite. The fries are great, the burgers are great. It’s a little more laid back but that’s what I like about it. They serve Long Man a great local beer.

Located in the Seaside Road area of town this pub looks great compared to what it used to look like. The current owners have painted it, have lots of flowers and baskets outside and it’s a great pub for live music, sports and playing a game of pool.

Very Kid Friendly

Based in Gildredge Park just outside town, this friendly cafe is all about keeping the kids happy so the parents can enjoy lunch. They have a sectioned off area with donated toys and has tennis courts with lots of classes for all ages.

I’m very fond of this odd little pub. It’s owned and run by an antiques professional and his sons. They’re super posh, so posh they’ve come full circle and get on much better with us commoners 😉 The food, drink and decor is on point plus they have a record player in the corner and a great little sun top at the back.